Typewriting machine



Jan. 5, 1943. L. c. ANTRIM 2,307,351

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1941 .Y INVE TOR .27 um" Awzm B Klan:

I ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 5, 1943 Louis C. Antrim, New York,

N. Y., assizuor to Autographic Register Company, Hoboken, N. 1., a

corporation of New Jers Application July 18, 1941, Serial No. 402,921

'13 Claims. (Cl. 197-133) The present invention relates to typewritingmachines, and,

vancing strips located thereon at form-length in-- tervals.

the usual electrically operated mechanism including the platen andpressure rollers may be controlled by the physical characteristics ofthe forms of the pile so as to be temporarily rendered inoperative whensical characteristics appearing at form-length intervals along the stripfor controlling a circuit so that a solenoid therein releases therollers when further feeding of the strips should cease.

In the specific form of this invention illustrated herein as exemplarythereof, an additional line space key is provided and usual line spacekey that one of these keys may be employed to actuate the line sorelated to the pressure space mechanism both during writing and ejectingand the other may be used only during line-by-line feed duringthewriting operations.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. 7

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section view showing partly in elevation the feelermechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary showing of the feeler mechanism of another formof the invention'in closed-circuit position.

As shown in the accompanying drawing, the

invention is applied to a front strike typewriting' rotated line-by-llneby line-spacing mechanism including a ratchet wheel i4 mounted on ashaft ll carrying the platen and itself rotatably mounted in thecarriage frame.

The worksheetsor strips I: are guided to-the strike upon the platen Thefeed rollers I: may be manually released from feeding engagement withthe platen by the troduction of the strips into the machine.

In order to position, the present invention provides means controlled bythe advancing strip forrendering While this may be accomplished in manyways in the preferred form of the invention feelers or detectors areprovided which 00- operate with control means disposed at formlengthintervals on the strip l3.

In one form of the present invention now preand extend through the pile.

The notches, as they are located in predetermined relation with theprinted forms, are adapted to cooperate with the feelers or detectorswhich, in the preferred form of the invention, comprise a pair ofcoopera ing contacts properly locate the strip in writing so that whenth pile of strips reaches a predetermined point, w ch may be variedaccording to the length of form, an electric circuit is completed andthis results in the release of the rollers l2 so that further feeding ofthe strips ceases.

The line-spacing mechanism which rotates the platen line-by-line to feedthe strips through the machine, comprises, in addition to the ratchetwheel l4, a pawl 28 carried by a plate 2| slidably The plate 2| pawl 26to intermittently engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel to rotatethe same and the platen line-by-line.

In the illustrated form of the invention now preferred, the plate isreciprocated by means of a bell crank lever 22 pivotally mounted to thecarriage frame and moved about its pivot by a band 23 which travelsabout a pulley by one arm of the bell crank lever. The one end of theband 23 is fixed as at 25, the opposite end of the band extending abouta pulley 26 carried at the opposite side of the carriage frame and fixedto a disk 21 rotatably carried by a shaft 28, constantly driven whilethe machine is in use by some suitable power means such as an electricmotor. The shaft 28 carries a second disk 29 which is keyed thereto forrotational movement with the same but which may be moved longitudinallythereof.

The adjacent faces of the disks 21 and 29 form a friction clutch so thatwhen the friction face of the disk 29 is moved into engagement with thefriction face of the disk 21 the latter will rotate with the disk 29.

A roller 36 fixed to the shaft 28 is used in the To this end, a cammounted adjacent the peripheral surface of the roller 38 and carries alug 32 which normally is engaged by a dog 33 carried by a link 34. Thelink 34 is connected through a suitable linkage mechanism with a bar 35which carries a manual depressible key 36 such as the usual line spacekey.

Depression of the key 36 through the bar 35 and associated linkagemechanism will move the dog 33 out of engagement with the lug 32 to freethe cam for rotation. When released, the cam, through a suitable springprovided for that purpose, is pivotally moved into engagement with theroller 30 and will be driven with the roller. Rotation of the camthrough an eccentric 31 and a suitable linkage mechanism such as shownat 38 will intermittently move the disk 29 into engagement with the disk21 to intermittently drive the latter disk and wind the band 23 thereon.The band 23, as it is intermittently taken up by the disk 21, will rockthe bell crank 22 to reciprocate the slide 2| to cause the pawl 20carried thereby to drive the ratchet wheel |4.

It will now be seen that, as long as the key 36 is depressed, theline-spacing mechanism will intermittently operate the platen to advancethe strips l3 line-by-line around the same.

To bring about the desired control of the strips through the notches l8,an elongate plate 39 of conducting material is insulatedly supported bythe carriage frame to overlie the platen as shown in Fig. l. The plate39 preferably is pivotally mounted to the carriage so that it may beswung back away from the platen if desired.

The late is formed with a pair of upturned flanges 48 supporting a rod4| which is insulated from the same 24 carried 42. Suitably mounted onthe rod are a pair of contact carriers 43 which may be adjusted alongthe rod transversely the strips and locked in adjusted -position bymeans of set screws 44. Each contact carrier has a dependent feeler anddetector contact 45 pivotally mounted thereon and having a contact face46 extending in the direction of the movement of the advancing strips. Aspring 41, secured to the carrier and engaging the contact 45, normallyurges it against the strips so that it will be normally held inengagement with the same as the strips are advanced.

The conducting plate 39 and contacts 45 are included in an electriccircuit to control the feeding means and are connected one to each sideof a source of current so that a gap exists between the two when thedetector contacts rest on the continuous strips.

When a pair of notches I8 pass under the detector contacts 45, thelatter will be urged into engagement with the channel, the plate 39 toclose the gap in the circuit. The face 46 of each contact 45 is of asufficient length to maintain engagement with the plate for a periodsufficient to enable the control to function before the notches willhave passed out of position underlying the contacts 45.

The control may be effected through a solenoid 48 connected into thecontrol circuit. The armature 49 of the solenoid is connected through asuitable linkage mechanism such as shown at 50 to a rod or rock bar 5|rotatably mounted on the The rod carries a pair of arms 52 which thefeed rollers l2 and hold the same in engagement with the platen ID. Thesolenoid 48, when energized, will draw the armature 48 into the corethereof and through the linkage mechanism 50 rotate the rod 5| and urgethe arms 52 downward to move the pressure rollers l2 away from theplaten III to stop the feed of the strips.

So long as the contacts ing plate 39, the pressure rollers |2 will beheld out of engagement with the platen and the same may be operated idlywithout advancing the strips.

To cause the strips to again advance, pressure may be applied to thestrips so that they frictionally engage the platen in any suitable way.This may be accomplished by the operator pressing her fingers againstthe strips on the platen to advance the same a distance sufiicient tomove the notches out of position" underlying the contacts 45, althoughin the preferred form of the present invention, the rollers |2 areautomatically caused to again engage the platen after the ejectingperiod. For this purpose, is provided with a monitor switch 53 whichmust be closed before the notching of the advancing strips can effectthe control. Various means may be employed to close this switch butpreferably the same is moved to closed-circuit position and held in thatposition by the ejecting period feed control means of the presentinvention which may comprise a pivotally mounted bar 54 carrying amanually engageable key 55. A lever 56 carried by the bar 54 overliesthe bar 35 and depression of the key 55 will also depress the bar 35,which, as has been previously explained, actuates the feed mechanismlong as the bar 35 is depressed.

It will now be seen that the key 36 may be used to control the feedingmeans of the typewriting machine during the writing period and the key55 to control the feeding means during the ejecting support y Suitableinsulating bushings period for movement of the notches into position 45engage the conductto cause the platen to advance underlying the contacts45 will not eiTect a control of the feeding means if the strip has beenadvanced by operation of the key 36. 1

However, the key 55 may be used as the usual line spacing key during thewriting operation and thereafter held down to continuously operate theplaten and advance the strips line-by-line until the contacts 45 rideinto the notches l-8. The key 36 in this operation of the machine isused merely as a starter for resuming the advance of the strips. Theresumption of feed of the strips a dise tance sufiicient to move thenotches out of position underlying the contacts will break the controlcircuit and the key 55 may then again be used to operate the platenthrough both the writing and ejecting periods.

It will be seen that the operation of the typewriter of the presentinvention is as follows: The contact carriers 43 are first adjustedtransversely of the continuous strips to insure that the conthe path ofmovement or the notches. The operator, during the writing period, mayadvance the strips through the machine line-by-line by momentarilydepressing the key 36 which, as has been explained, will drive theplaten line-by-line. After the writing operation is completed, theoperator can, by holding key 55 depressed, advance the stripsline-by-line until the form writ-ten upon is ejected'from the machineand the notches of the next succeeding form have been advanced to theposition in which they underlie the contacts 45 of the controlmechanism. The key 55, as long as it is held down, will hold the switch53 closed thereby initiating the control circuit which will be completedby the As soon as the key 55 has been released, the switch 53 willautomatically move to an open-circuit position thereby deenergizing thesolenoid 50, whereupon the rollers l2 engage the platen. The strips cannow be fed through the machine line-by-line either byopcrating theplaten during the writing period by the key 36 and thereafter by the key55- or by using the key 36 to operate the platen to feed the strips adistance suificient to move the notches out of position underlying thecontacts 45 and continuing the feed of the strips during the writing aswell as the ejecting period by use of the key 55.

Other physical characteristics of the pile occurring at form-lengthintervals may be employed to effectthe control of the feed of the pile,if it is not desired to employ the notches l8.

While any constantly recurring physical characteristics of the pile maybe employed to effect control of the feed, thereis shown in Fig. 3 meanswhich may be utilized to render the feeding mechanism, which may be ofthe type described with regard to Figs. 1 and 2, ineffective. Thecontrol is also of the same construction as previously de scribed, for,in this form'of the invention, when the physical alteration in the stripsuch as the staple 58, which secures the strips together at form-lengthintervals and holds the same in registration, passes under the detectorcontact 59, it will bridge the gap between the same and a conductingplate 60, such as the plate 39, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Theengagement of the contact 59 with the staple 58 completes a controlcircuit such as shown in Fig.. 1 to bring about 75 the.

o operative.

a release of the pressure rollers from feeding engagement. l c

When the strips so stapled together are fed frictionally, creepingoccurs between the several strips, but the amount of creeping resultingfrom of one form length is imperceptible and not objectionable. With thestrips stapled together, this creep is accumulated in advance ofthemselves shift relatively and tration as defined Variations and comeinto regisby the next staple.

modifications may be made this invention and portions of form is inproper writing position; and means separate from said first -namedcontrol means for 2. In a typewriting machine scribed, tinuous 1 writingoperation.

.3. In .a typewriting machine of the type described, means for feeding acontinuous strip havthereon through sumcient to move out of engagementchine and the first line of writing on the next succeeding form is inproper writing position; and means for controlling said feeding means toadvance the strip after the ejecting period a distance the controllingportion of the succeeding form out of said predetermined position.

4. in a typewriting machine of the type described, means for feeding acontinuous strip having a succession of printed forms thereon throughthe machine; means for operating the feeding means for advancing saidstrip as line after line is written; means for operating said feedingmeans to continuously feed the strip lineby-line to eject the remainingportion of the writ-- ten form from the machine; and means renderedoperative by a succeeding form of the advancing strip for controllingthe feeding means during the ejecting period to stop the advance of thestrip when the first line of writing on the next succeeding form is inproper writing position, said feeding means being rendered operativeupon disuse of said ejecting period feed-operating means, thefirst-mentioned feed-operating means being effective to again advancethe strip for the next writing period.

5. In a typewriting machine of the type ,de-

scribed, means for feeding a continuous strip hav-- ing control means atform-length intervals through the machine; means for operating saidfeeding means for advancing said strip line-byline during a writingoperation and for line-byline ejecting the remainder of the written formafter a writing period; means for stopping the feed of said strip whenthe next successive form is in proper writing position, said meanscomprising a circuit including contacts cooperating with the controlmeans of the advancing strip for rendering said feed means inoperative;and means for operating said feeding means to advance the strip afterthe ejecting period a distance sufficient to move the control means ofsaid strip with said contacts to render said first-named feed-operatingmeans again operative.

6. In a typewriting machine of the type described, means for feedingline-by-line a continuous strip having control means at form-lengthintervals through the machine; means for operating said feeding meansduring a writing period; means for operating said feeding means forlineby-line ejecting the form after a writing period; and means forstopping the feeding means at the end of the ejecting period when thenext successive form is in proper writing position, said meanscomprising means actuated by said ejecting period feed'operating meansfor preparing a control circuit and means cooperating with the controlmeans of said strip for completing the circuit to render the feedingmeans inoperative, the feeding means being rendered operative by disuseof said ejecting period feed-operating means and the writing periodfeed-operating means being effective to again advance the strip for thenext writing period.

'7. In a typewriting machine of the type described, means for feeding acontinuous strip having control means at form-length intervals; meansfor operating said feeding means for advancing said strip line-by-lineduring a writing operation and for ejecting the remainder of a writtenform line-by-line after the writing operation; means initiated byoperation of said lastnamed means and including means cooperative withthe control means of said strip for renderasoassi said feed-operatingmeans inoperative to further control the feed of the strip when theremainder of the written form has been elected and the first line ofwriting of the next succeeding form is in proper writing position; andmeans, separate from said first-named operating means, for operatingsaid feeding means to resume the advance of said strip.-

8. In a typewriting machine of the type described, means for feeding acontinuous strip having.a succession of printed forms thereon throughthe machine, each form having a control means therein; means foroperating the feeding means for advancing the strip line-by-line duringa writing period; means for operating the feeding means for ejecting atline space intervals the remainder of the written form; anelectro-responsive means adapted when energized to render the feedinmeans inoperative after the strip has been fed under the control of saidlast-named operating means a distance sufficient to eject the remainderof the written form and bring the first line of writing of the nextsuccessive form to proper writing position; and a circuit for saidelectroresponsive means having two gaps therein, one of said gaps beingclosed by operation of said ejecting period feed-operating means, theother of said gaps being closed when the control means of the nextsuccessive form has been mined position relative to the machine therebycompleting said circuit and energizing said electroresponsive means.

9. In a typewriting machine of the type described, a platen; movablymounted pressure rollers cooperating with said platen to feed throughthe machine a continuous strip having apertures therein at form-lengthintervals; means for rotating said platen line-by-line; means for ingcontrolling said platen-rotating means during a writing operation;actuator means for operating said last-named means to effect rotation ofsaid platen after the writing operation for ejecting at line-spaceintervals the remainder of the written form; a circuit including anormally open switch and a plurality of relatively movable contactsnormally spaced apart by said strip, closed by operation of saidactuator means for ejecting the remainder of the written form, ejectionof the remainder-e01 the written form advancing the apertures in thenext succeeding form to a predetermined position relative to saidmachine wherein said contacts engage each other through said aperturesto energize said circuit; an electroresponsive means connected into saidcircuit and energized therewith; and means controlled by theenergization of said electroresponsive means for moving the pressurerollers out of feeding engagement with said platen to stop the advanceof said strip with the next succeeding form in proper writing position.

10. In a typewriter of the type described, a

means for rotating said platen line-byline; movably mounted pressurerollers cooperating with said platen to feed through the machine as theplaten is rotated line by line a continuous strip having predeterminedcharacteristics thereon at form-length intervals; means for operatingsaid platen-rotating means for advancing the strip through the machineduring the writing operation and for ejecting the remainder of thewritten form after the writing operation; control means initiated byoperation of said last-named means and adapted when completed to movesaid pressure rollers out of engagement with said platen after thewritten form has been ejected fed to a predetersaid switch beingacteristic of said strip;

tection by said contactsfof a predetermined charand means for operatingsaid platen-rotating means to resume the advance of said strip whilesaid contacts are in detecting relation with said characteristic, thefirst-named operating means being made operative incident to resumptionof movement of said strips a distance sufilcient to move said contactsout ofdetecting relation with said characteristic.

11. In a typewriting machine 01' the type described, means for feeding acontinuous strip having predetermined characteristics thereon atform-length intervals means for operating said feeding means foradvancing said strip line-byline during a writing operation; means foroperating said feeding means after a writing operation for ejecting theremainder of the written form at line space intervals from the machine;

electroresponsive means adapted when energized to render the ejectingperiod feed-operating means inoperative to continue to control the feedof the strips after the written form has been ejected and the nextsucceeding form is in proper writing position; and a normally opencircuit for energizing said electroresponsive means having a. pluralityof cooperating contacts therein, one

pair of said contacts being normally spaced apart but moved intoengagement by operation of said ejecting period feed-operating means toinitiate the completion of the circuit, the other of said contactscoacting with said strip and completing said circuit upon detectionthereby of a predetermined characteristic in the next succeeding formafter the written form has been ejected.

12. In a typewriting machine of the type described, a platen; movablymounted pressure rollers cooperating continuous strip having aperturestherein at form-length intervals; means for rotating said platenline-by-line; means for controlling said wnamed contact by said strip;an electroresponsive device; a circuit for said electroresponsive deviceincluding a normally open switch closed by operation of said ejectingperiod feed control means, said contacts forming a part of said circuit;and means-controlled by the energization of said electroresponsivedevice for movingfthe pressure rollers out of feeding engagement withwith said platen to feed-a platen rotating means during the writingoperation; means for controlling said platen rotating means after thewriting operation for ejecting at line space intervals the remainder ofthe written form; a contact disposed between said platen and the stripbeing fed thereover; a contact engaging the upper surface of said stripand normally held out of engagement with said firstsaid platen, saidelectroresponsive device being energized at the end of the ejectingperiod by the engagement between said contacts while the ejecting periodfeed control means is operated as a predetermined aperture ofsaid stripis moved to a position wherein said contacts engage each other throughsaid aperture.

13. In a typewriting machine of the type described, a platen; movablymounted pressure rollers cooperating with said platen to feed acontinuous strip having apertures therein at formlength intervals; meansfor rotating said platen line-by-line; actuator means including amanually operable key for actuating said feeding means to advance saidstrip line-by-1ine during a writing period; a second manually operablekey; means controlled by said last-named key for operating said actuatormeans to cause said feed ing means to eject the remainder of the writtenform at line-space intervals from the machine; a contact disposedbetween said platen and the strip being fed thereover; a contactengaging the upper surface of said strip and normally held out of en-'gagement with said first-named contact by said strip; anelectroresponsive device; a circuit including said contacts for saidelectroresponsive device; a normally open switch in said circuit, saidswitch being disposed adjacent said second manbeing energized at the endof the ejecting period while the second mentioned key is controllingsaid f feeding means by the engagement between said.

contacts as a predetermined aperture of said strip is moved to aposition wherein said contacts engage each other through said aperture,the elec troresponsive means being deenergized upon release of saidsecond .key whereupon said pressure rollers return to feeding position,said actuator means being effective to control said feeding means duringthe next writing period.

' LOUIS C. ANTR M.

